While we’re enjoying the tail end of summer and glorying in the sun, don’t forget that it’s also time to start planning your fall look. So, you’re sitting in the sun, wearing a flirty skirt, but it never hurts to think ahead.

Tweed is going to be hot. No, not in that fusty professorial way, think high heeled tweed boots in great color combos, tweed accessories, and cute shrunken Chanel type blazers that you go well with jeans or office looks. Chiffon is transiting to fall in long sleeves or layer it with other pieces. The 40’s look has been updated for this fall, so look for tailored pieces that are feminine and flowing, with nifty little accents to give the clothing a modern edge.

If you’re lucky enough to own some vintage 40’s pieces, this fall is the time to show them off. If you’ve got a vintage item that needs to be tailored or fixed, if you have an idea for a fabulous ensemble, but can’t sew, or just have a few alterations lying around, you need to meet up with Hannah Nordgren. She can design anything from lingerie to the dress of your dreams. Hannah can make sure you don’t trip over your pants or need a safety pin to keep your skirt up. When she sees fabric, she sees endless possibilities.
Hannah graduated from Pratt in 2000 with a BFA in Fashion Design and a minor in Art History. She then picked up her masters at FIT in Museum Studies, but realized that curating wasn’t wanted she wanted to do. She wanted to play with clothes!

For the past three years Hannah has been freelancing in the field-everything from being an Assistant Designer, production co-ordination and tech design. “After a while though, I began to miss doing the sewing and tailoring work, so I started to take in sewing work and it’s been an incredible rewarding time. There are some really interesting designs that I get to work on and the people are pretty flexible since I usually work full time as well.” Hannah told me recently. She understands the romance of fabric and how designs can speak to a woman.

She’s created some deceptively simple yet elegant outfits. The dotted dress in the picture was created for a customer who wanted a body conscious look but didn’t want princess seaming, so Hannah created the dress with two side panels instead and it looks incredible on. The grey dress was realized from a design student’s sketch and the garter belt was one of Hannah’s own innovations.

The most important accessory for any season is your skin. No matter what time of year, it’s important to have a glowy healthy complexion. Lacote USA has come out with two incredible products to maintain delicious skin and help repair minor sun damage and work on evil cellulite. Both products have seaweed, natural ingredients and scents that make you feel relaxed and happy.

Their GUAM Seaweed Algascrub imported by Lacote USA is a definite must have item. Some of the ingredients are sea salts, algae and nutritive body oils and pure essential oils. This combo helps stimulate circulation, eliminate toxins and the scent is intoxicating. I tried it and it was so easy to use. I slathered it all over my body, especially on my feet-sandals can cause damage! I felt so wonderful afterwards; I almost skipped out of the bathroom.

Lacote USA also has GUAM Seaweed Mud. This is a treatment for cellulite that is so easy to use at home. Simply apply to the areas where cellulite is showing, wrap some plastic wrap around it, wait and rinse off. The mineral and vegetable content is over 50% of the product. Other ingredients include algae, clay, chestnut phytoextract, and seaweed phytoextract. After a few applications, you’ll notice the difference and oh the scent! Intoxicating.

Check out the G.M Collin Paris dermo corrective skincare line. The line is designed to protect the skin’s assets by using active ingredients that harness free radicals and to reactivate the skin’s physiological mechanisms. The active ingredients are used to fight aging.

The line was co-created by Dr. Eugenia Lapinet and Monique Moreau in France in1957. Dr. Lapinet is a dermatologist and Ms. Moreau is a renowned aesthetician. Together they created a unique skin care line created from botanical, biotechnological and marine ingredients. The products are not tested on animals and yes, the containers are recyclable. The line has everything from cleansing to treatment to protection.

I’ve road tested three products from the line; The Native Collagen Gel, Hydramucine Cream and SPF 30 Total Sun block.

Sun block needs to become second nature to us all; whether you’re at the beach or just wandering down Madison Avenue. G.M. Collin’s sun block is water resistant, strong enough for almost any climate, and it’s very gentle on sun sensitive skin.

I love the Collagen Gel. It’s lightweight, absorbs easily into the skin, is non greasy and after a few days, my skin looks better. It can be used for normal, combination or oily skin. Some of the ingredients are; honey extract, grapefruit essential oil, hydrolyzed actin and DNA and glycogen and arginine and RNA, and a host of other things that rejuvenate the skin.

I’ve been topping that off with their hydramucine cream as a day and night moisturizer. It was created to improve skin’s moisture. Ingredients like milk hydrolysat, soybean sterol, soya lecithin, essential oils of lavendin, lemon, eucalyptus and juniperus and lots of other goodies help remoisturize your skin, giving you a healthful dewy look. The moisturizer works for normal to dry alipidic skin.

Go to http://www.gmcollin.com to see their entire line of quality skin care or give them a call at 800-341-1531 (US) or 800-361-1263 (Canada) to find out where you can purchase the line in your neighborhood. Your skin will say thank you.

Summertime and the shopping is easy, with sample sales!

Meg 312 E. 9th Street (212)-260-6329 is having the Dirty Sale, where you can pick up goodies 50% off.

30vandam – 30 Vandam St, between Varick and Avenue of the Americas (212)929-6454 Sales are on over 60 of the city’s hottest designers with deals like T shirts $10 – $17, tops $25 – $50, pants $20 – $65. You’ll also fond one of a kind sample pieces and get to much on Belgian chocolate and sip coffee while you shop. When you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win a makeover from a New York’s designer, valued at $1000.00. Sale ends 8/31

Each creation is an instant classic. She’s having her only sample sale for the entire year! You can pick up everything from a Judith Leiber pillbox to one of her minaudieres. Prices range from $99 to $3,000. Sale starts 8/15 and ends 9/7/04.

Zelda – 550 7th Avenue, between 39th and 40th Streets (212) 764-0020 Zelda is a sportswear line that’s inspired by vintage clothing. You may have seen some of their creations on the stars of TV shows like “Friends,” Law and Order,” and “Dateline” among others. Their two day sample sale is at the end of August- 8/26 – 8/27. Start planning now. Sizes are 2 – 16, and there will be vintage pieces, one of a kind and more.

Who says you can’t buy love? You can! You can get slobbering kisses, happy purrs and a thumping tail or two that shows you how much they love you. What am I talking about? I’m talking about acquiring a pet. Trust me; a cat or dog in your life brings you joy, laughter and an occasionally mauled shoe, but it’s worth it. If you are leaning towards having a fur child, seriously think about looking for one from a rescue league.

Mighty Mutts has been around for almost twenty years. It was started by John Contino, who at the time was a line repairman for the phone company. On his rounds he noticed abandoned and stray animals and decided to do something about it. Now Mighty Mutts has a band of devoted volunteers who roam the streets saving abused and abandoned animals. There isn’t a central shelter; instead there is a network of foster homes where dogs live until they are adopted.

Over the years Mighty Mutts has taken in hundreds of cats and dogs as well as an occasional chicken and bunny. The animals range in age from pups to senior citizens and come in all breeds and sizes. When you go to their website, http://members.tripod.com/~MightyMutts/frame.html, you’ll see all the animals that are up for adoption. If you’re not ready to open your home permanently to a pet, but would like to listen to the patter of claws on your hardwood floors, you may want to be a foster parent. If you are thinking that way, please understand that fostering a dog is not for a week or a month, it’s until the pet is adopted. While you will have to pay for food and toys, all medical bills are covered by Mighty Mutts.

Each animal has been altered and are up to date on their shots. If you do want to help Mighty Mutts out, but don’t want a pet or have the space for one, you can become a volunteer.

Every Saturday they show off their charges in Union Square, right by the Gandhi statue. Become a volunteer and sit with a pooch under the sun and answer questions from prospective parents. Or you can work at Ollie’s Place at 203 East 26th Street (right off 3rd Avenue) 212-532-0330. It’s completely owned and operated by Mighty Mutts and has healthy treats, toys and food for your furry one. There’s also an onsite cat adoption center. It is completely staffed by volunteers.
The adoption/fostering process takes a long time. I’m talking phone interviews and home visits, but it’s worth it. You can’t just take a pet home from Mighty Mutts, they want to make sure that you really will care about your charge and that it’s a good fit for the two of you.

One of the nicest things on this planet is being greeted at the end of the day by a wagging tail, a friendly meow or even a hop or two (that’s from the bunny contingent!)

I’ve got the lowdown on some more places where you can get fabulous cut and color at the fraction of the cost.

Arrojo Studio http://www.arrojostudio.com is on Varick Street, between King and Charlton, (212) 242-7786 is run by Nick Arrojo, who can be seen nationally on TLC’s “What Not To Wear.” The salon has an apprentice program which is taught by master stylists and colorists. Cutting classes are on Monday and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM. Color is done Fridays at 10 AM. Cut (including wash and blow dry) $20, color starts at $30 and it’s cash only. They are looking for male and female participants. While each apprentice is responsible for finding their own model, there is a book at the front desk for people who are looking for an apprentice cut or color. I do have one apprentice’s phone number that I would be happy to share with you. D. J. Kornell, Jr can be reached at 914-668-3783

John Sahag 425 Madison Ave (212) 750-7772. The first five people to call 212-826-3305 at 8:30Am on Mondays will get an appointment for Tuesday at 6:15 PM. Cuts $40, color $30, single process highlights $60